Chapter 247: Building an Intelligence Network
The north wind blew all night.
By morning, the courtyard was carpeted with withered yellow leaves.
After sending Yu Ge'er to the Imperial College, Yun Chu and Changsheng sat in the hall—one painting, the other sketching embroidery patterns.
Yun Chu was contemplating what kind of pattern would suit a man like Prince Pingxi, yet couldn't be too intricate. Otherwise, her embroidery skills would fall short, resulting in a misshapen sachet she'd be too embarrassed to gift.
"Ting Xue, why don't you sketch a few designs for me to choose from?"
After struggling for over an hour, Yun Chu finally sought Ting Xue's help.
Where there's a will to give up, there's a way.
Ting Xue, skilled in needlework, immediately began sketching.
Yun Chu picked up a blank sheet of paper and started pondering how to construct an intelligence network.
At the beginning of her rebirth, she could rely on her foresight to seek advantages and avoid harm. But many events had gradually changed, becoming completely different from her previous life.
To elevate Ding Yiyuan to the position of Grand Astrologer and ensure he maintained that status, she needed her own sources of information.
As she slowly contemplated, the blank paper gradually filled with written characters...
"Young Miss, Concubine Jiang and Miss Xie request an audience."
Ting Feng entered from outside to report.
Yun Chu closed her notes and looked up: "Let them in."
She had already received news about yesterday's events at the Xie residence.
She had thought that given Ting Yu's temperament, she would have stirred up some trouble in the Hu household. Unexpectedly, she had fled for Xie Shiyun's sake.
The dynasty's laws were clear: indentured maidservants and lowly concubines who dared to escape privately could be executed by the mistress of the household.
Thus, Ting Yu had died at the hands of the Hu family.
Yun Chu felt little fluctuation in her heart...
Before long, Concubine Jiang entered leading Xie Xian by the hand.
Concubine Jiang bowed her head in greeting: "I pay my respects to Miss Yun."
Xie Xian also lowered her head: "Greetings to Miss Yun."
She remembered her mother's words—her birth mother had left the Xie family and she was no longer permitted to address her as mother.
Yun Chu invited the mother and daughter to sit, while Ting Xue served tea.
"This lowly concubine presumes to disturb you. I beg Miss Yun's forgiveness for this offense." Concubine Jiang appeared deeply apprehensive. "I've come to seek Miss Yun's counsel regarding a decision."
Yesterday when the Hu family came demanding justice, four servants beat Ting Yu mercilessly. Unable to bear the sight, she offered one hundred taels of silver to save her.
That hundred taels came from selling Old Madam's fine possessions—a chest of jewelry that fetched thirteen hundred taels in total. She had converted it all to silver notes and kept them hidden on her person.
She hadn't slept all night, having hastily buried Ting Yu together with the mistress. She had wanted to come see Yun Chu at daybreak, but Xie Shi'an was home and she didn't dare act rashly.
Only after waiting until Xie Shi'an finally left did she immediately bring Xian Jie'er over.
"Miss Yun, I... I wish to leave the Xie family with Xian Jie'er." Concubine Jiang's eyes held determination. "But I'm merely a concubine and Xian Jie'er just a girl. We mother and daughter have no means to establish our own household. I don't know what to do."
Yun Chu fully supported Concubine Jiang's intention.
The Xie family was a wolf's den. Staying too long would inevitably lead to being devoured completely.
After some consideration, she responded: "Establishing a household requires male lineage. As long as you have a son under your name, you can branch out independently. It shouldn't be too difficult."After leaving the Xie family, her household registration had been transferred back to her maiden family. But since Jiang Yiniang had no relatives, the only solution was to find a way to have a son.
Jiang Yiniang frowned with worry: "Isn't this difficult?"
She thought it was extremely challenging—her husband was dead, so she couldn't possibly bear another son.
She had considered taking Yun Ge'er or Kang Ge'er with her, but she knew clearly that Xie Shi'an would never agree.
There was no need to provoke that wolf.
As for her maiden family... she essentially had none. The only person she could turn to for help was her former mistress.
"There are many parentless orphans at the Orphanage. You can come with me to see if any child catches your eye," Yun Chu paused before continuing, "Let the child be registered under your name as an adopted son."
If the child were recognized as her own, they would inevitably develop fantasies and constantly compare themselves with Xian Jie'er, her biological daughter.
Over time, even a saint would develop petty thoughts.
She had suffered greatly because of this in her previous life.
Jiang Yiniang didn't ask further and nodded: "Alright."
Yun Chu set aside her tasks and took Jiang Yiniang and her daughter by carriage directly to the Orphanage.
Over these past days, the number of children at the Orphanage had been growing. Even before entering, one could hear the cheerful laughter of children.
Xie Xian was only somewhat reserved in front of Yun Chu. Upon seeing so many children of similar age, she immediately blended in and began playing with them.
Yun Chu brought Jiang Yiniang inside and handed her a booklet: "These are profiles of healthy children without parents. If you find any suitable, I'll have the child come for you to meet."
Jiang Yiniang looked through it but couldn't discern much, so she asked Yun Chu to decide.
Yun Chu hadn't visited often and wasn't very familiar with the children, so she sent Ting Xue to invite her cousin Yun Qin.
Yun Qin knew the temperaments of the children in the hall inside out.
"Although the Orphanage provides for everything, every child still hopes to have a family of their own. I thank you on behalf of the children for being willing to adopt," Yun Qin said methodically. "For adoption, the child shouldn't be too old. Moreover, since you have a daughter at home, we should find a gentle-natured boy so the two children won't clash."
As she spoke, she pointed to a child's name.
Soon, someone brought the child in.
Yun Chu remembered this child—though only just over four years old, he was polite and restrained in every way, and remained emotionally stable no matter what happened.
Having this child become Jiang Yiniang's adopted son was indeed quite suitable.
Jiang Yiniang also liked this child very much because he felt different from those in the Xie family.
His clear eyes and pure demeanor, yet with a hint of reservation and fear deep in his gaze—after all, as a former orphan, he remained wary of strangers around him.
"Is your name Xu Ti?" Jiang Yiniang asked softly. "Do you still remember your mother?"
The child shook his head: "Mother died in childbirth."
"Would you like me to be your mother from now on?" Jiang Yiniang took his hand. "I'm not asking you to accept me right away. You can continue staying at the Orphanage. Whenever you've thought it through, I'll bring you home."
Xu Ti pursed his lips and asked: "If you adopt me, what would you want me to do?""I need a son to establish my own household," Concubine Jiang did not conceal her intentions from him. "After you become my adopted son, I will support your education so you'll never suffer from hunger or cold again."
The child thought for a moment before asking further, "What if I study for over ten years? Would you still support me then?"
"As long as you're genuinely devoted to your studies and seriously pursuing knowledge, I will continue supporting you indefinitely," Concubine Jiang promised.
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